The Future of Internet Freedom, Research Paper Example

Introduction

In the next decade, an estimated five billion people will become connected to the Internet. This has raised concern over the power of the Internet in the future in shaping the world. Even as more people get in positions where they can access the Internet, there exist a number of countries where access to the Internet is either denied or censored. Access or denial to access to the Internet has a number of consequences to the people, and has become a subject of debate to those who support or oppose Internet freedom in the society. The US has taken on a policy of supporting Internet freedom not only within its land, but also, in the international context.

The United States has voiced its concerns on the need for the protection of people’s right to access the Internet. The US holds on the premise that the Internet connects the world together, and improved connectivity has a positive consequence on global peace, and understanding. The US has voiced its concerns against a number of regimes that have been suppressive to Internet freedom. In addition, human rights groups including the ‘Freedom House Group’ have voiced concerns on the need for authorities to allow free access to Internet freedom in a number of countries where access to certain sites may lead one into prison or to face punishment (Landler & Knowlton, 2011).

In addition, the US has also taken on a number of initiatives to boost Internet freedom within and without its borders. This has been done through direct funding of groups working on promoting Internet freedom. For instance, in the year 2013, the US department of State in conjunction with USAID awarded $25 million to groups working to advance Internet freedom, counter Internet censorship, and engages in the development of secure communications technologies; engage in digital safety training and policy development programs for people facing Internet repression. This is in addition to over $100 million; the US spends to promote innovative Internet freedom across the globe.

Rules of Internet Freedom in the US

In the United States, Internet freedom is both a domestic and foreign policy, which has been in place for many years. The US developed a foreign policy, which supports the need for all people across the world to access the Internet (Kerpen, 2013). The US is committed to ensure that all the children born anywhere in the world can access global Internet as an open platform to for learning, idea expression, and innovation. The US policy is focused on ensuring that all people can access the Internet, and will experience freedom from censorship and undue interference. This is supported by the need to promote values of openness and human rights in a networked world of today.

The US has taken on this policy due to its conviction of the significance of the Internet in fueling the global economy, boosting the productivity of local economies, and promotes job creation. Through the laid policies, the US has become a champion of Internet freedom, for the Internet acts as a bridge to bring up new information and resources to isolated communities. Indeed, through Internet freedom, people in isolated areas are given the opportunity to be active participants in world affairs (Morozov, 2012).

However due to the impacts of the Internet on children, adults, and on security matters, the US developed a censorship Act that laid policies concerning censorship of the Internet. The policy may be summarized into three categories. First, the Government laid a policy where it encourages Internet industry self-regulation and end-user voluntary use of filtering/blocking technologies. The second policy allowed for criminal law penalties applicable to content provider unsuitable content for minors online. Third, the Government has power to block access to content unsuitable for adults.

Limitations/ Challenges to Internet Freedom

Internet success has not been a success in every country, but it has been a nightmare in some countries, where strict limitations have been put in place against free access to the Internet. In most of these countries, certain limitations have been put in place making it difficult for the people to freely access or use Internet service. A number of case examples include Russia, where the Government has blocked tens of thousands of sites. At times, the Government blocks world press blogs making it difficult for Internet access.

In Vietnam, the state has developed a new law called ‘Decree 72’. Decree 72 makes it illegal to distribute content that is deemed to oppose the government. This law also bars any party from distributing such contents on social media. This has made it difficult for the users and bloggers to share information. In Pakistan, efforts to block sites that worked well have been underway. This happens as sites, such as, You Tube, Tumbir, and Wikipedia are replaced by phrases, such as, ‘surf safely’. Repression mechanisms against Internet freedom are diverse including the ”deep packet inspection,’’ a hardware that allows authorities to follow up with every unencrypted email sent, published blog post, and website visited (MacKinnon, 2012).

Successes in Internet Freedom in US

In the US, many successes have been realized as regards Internet freedom, due to the continual investment on Internet infrastructure. The US has one of the best Internet infrastructure systems in the world. This is evidenced by the remarkable boom in broadband Internet. The development of the broadband Internet has been driven by hands-off government policies, which allowed for intense competition among the phone, wireless, cable Internet service providers.

The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) recently acknowledged that in the last three years, Internet broadband speeds in the US doubled. On the same note, much success has been realized in access to the Internet, where it is reported that in excess of 96% of U.S. households are now connected to wire broadband. This means that a significant proportion of the US citizens can freely access the Internet at fast speeds. In addition, research reveals that a robust 89 percent of Americans have access to a choice of five or more Internet broadband providers. These successes are a culmination of heavy cable investment by cable companies amounting to $200 billion in infrastructure development in the year 1996, and the current investment of about $13 billion per year (MacKinnon, 2012).

Conclusion

Conclusively, the study has revealed that the US has experienced much growth in Internet freedom with good laws, and infrastructure investments. The study reveals the importance of promoting Internet freedom across the world, even as some regimes suppress the need for Internet freedom. The study makes evident that the US has played a key role in promoting Internet freedom through foreign policy developments and funding projects geared towards Internet freedom. From the study, the future of Internet freedom is not bleak, for key efforts have been undertaken to promote Internet access and freedom.

References

Kerpen, P. (2013). An American Infrastructure Success Story. Available at/: http://www.Internetfreedomcoalition.com/?p=3331

Landler, M. & Knowlton, B. (2011). U.S. Policy to Address Internet Freedom Published: February 14, 2011. Available at/: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/world/15clinton.html?emc=eta1&_r=0

MacKinnon, R. (2012). The World-wide Struggle for Internet Freedom. NewYork: Basic Books.

Morozov, E. (2012). The Net Delusion: How Not to Liberate the World. NewYork: Penguin.